By Elizabeth Osayande
Is discipline declining in Lagos schools since the ban on corporal punishment, or are schools simply struggling to adapt to a new reality without alternatives?
That question dominated discussions on Friday as policymakers, educators, students, civil society leaders and government officials converged on the Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, for a high-level policy roundtable on school discipline.
The event, organised by the Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation, AAAF, with support from SIFAX Group, was themed: Assessing the Impact of Banning Corporal Punishment on Discipline in Schools: Exploring Alternative Strategies for Managing Student Misconduct. It coincided with activities marking the International Teachers’ Day and featured recognition of outstanding teachers in Lagos.
A ban without a manual?
At the heart of the deliberations was a shared concern: while the ban on corporal punishment aligns with global child protection standards, many schools lack clear operational guidelines and institutional support to manage behaviour effectively.
Declaring the roundtable open, Chairman of SIFAX Group and Chairman, Board of Trustees of AAAF, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, said discipline remains fundamental to educational success and national development.
He noted that the conversation was not just about policy, but about safeguarding the future of children, restoring teachers’ confidence and building a society anchored on responsibility and character.
According to him, schools must be environments where “children can learn in safety, teachers can teach with dignity, and discipline serves as a pathway to character, not fear; responsibility, not rebellion; growth, not resentment.”
He urged stakeholders to approach the conversation with open minds and focus on practical solutions that place the best interests of children at the centre of reforms.
What research found in Lagos schools
A major highlight was the presentation of findings from a statewide policy review conducted by AAAF across the five divisions of Lagos State. The study covered 451 students, 42 school leaders and teachers, and 150 students in focus group discussions across 15 schools.
While most students surveyed said their schools maintained relatively good levels of discipline, many educators admitted they were ill-equipped with alternatives after the ban on flogging.
The report flagged gaps in policy implementation, teacher capacity, institutional support and stakeholder engagement. It recommended greater policy clarity, continuous teacher training, school-level disciplinary frameworks, stronger parental participation and periodic policy reviews. It also proposed structured escalation procedures to ensure disciplinary measures are proportional to offences.
Discipline begins at home – Commissioner
Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Tolani Ali-Balogun, said discipline starts at home, arguing that many challenges in schools reflect wider societal failures, not just gaps in the education sector.
He stressed that successful implementation of any policy depends largely on cooperation from parents and communities, lamenting what he described as a growing disconnect between parents and schools.
“We must create society first. It is not just about policy. Parents are critical to discipline,” he said, urging families to take greater responsibility for moral upbringing. He noted that many parents fail to respond when invited to discuss behavioural issues concerning their children.
Earlier, goodwill messages from education officials, quality assurance agencies and social welfare institutions reinforced the need for positive discipline, counselling services, restorative practices and behavioural intervention programmes.
Students speak: Discipline is not fear
One of the most engaging sessions came from students who participated in AAAF’s essay competition on school discipline. They challenged stakeholders to rethink punishment and focus on character, responsibility and self-control.
Winner of the competition, Iwala Olachiwa Sharon, argued that true discipline should help children make right choices even when no authority figure is present. She advocated guidance and counselling, restorative justice and clear disciplinary codes over physical punishment.
Another student speaker, Mudahiru Anuoluwa, urged stakeholders to move beyond the simplistic debate of whether teachers should flog students and focus on building a system capable of producing disciplined, responsible and self-motivated young people.
From lazy approach to lasting change
On the policy side, experts, school administrators and teacher unions called for stronger support systems — more guidance counsellors, specialised teacher training and structured collaboration between parents, schools and government.
Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Lola Vivour-Adeniyi, argued that corporal punishment often fails to achieve genuine behavioural change, describing it as a “lazy approach” that creates fear without building character. She called for discipline strategies anchored on communication, guidance and accountability.
Stakeholders also raised concerns about emerging challenges: social media influence, changing family structures, peer pressure, mental health issues and neurodiversity among learners. Teachers, they stressed, must be equipped to understand and respond to these realities.
Consensus: shared responsibility
The roundtable ended with broad consensus that the future of school discipline in Lagos must be built on shared responsibility involving government, schools, parents, civil society and students themselves.
Participants agreed that sustainable reform will require clearer disciplinary procedures, stronger safeguarding mechanisms and robust stakeholder engagement.
The event climaxed with the recognition of teachers whose dedication and impact earned them top rankings in AAAF’s statewide nomination. Mrs. Modupe Odumade of Ijaye Ojokoro Senior High School emerged the highest-ranked teacher, followed by Mrs. ThankGod Priscilla, Mrs. Balogun Ramota Temitope, Mr. Akinola Oluwatobi and Ms. James Mary Omolade.
As stakeholders dispersed after hours of deliberations, one message was clear: ensuring discipline in schools and protecting children’s rights are not mutually exclusive. Achieving both will require evidence-based policies, committed leadership, active parental involvement and sustained collaboration across the education ecosystem.
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